[EBB Sightings] Some days you get lucky (HASP, WTSP, BRCO, RNGR)

Leaving the office a little after 2:00 yesterday afternoon, the plan  
was to make a quick stop for the Harris' Sparrow at Pt. Isabel before  
heading for the train home at 3:40. Not much margin for error. At Pt.  
Isabel several birders reported no success despite several hours of  
searching. Not encouraging. Since several other birders were working  
the path south of the parking lot, we decided to head north. After a  
couple hundred yards we saw a man with a baby stroller (not a good  
sign) with binoculars (better sign) looking at us and pointing off to  
the side of the path (excellent sign!). After joining him we had  
extended looks at the Harris' Sparrow on both sides of the path,  
during which time we were joined by two other birders. Just as we were  
getting ready to leave, the White-throated Sparrow put in an  
appearance in the depression on the east side of the path. It wasn't  
even 3:00 yet, so we decided to press our luck with a quick stop at  
the Berkeley pier, where both the Brandt's Cormorant and the Red- 
necked Grebe were diving repeatedly very close to the north side of  
the pier, giving excellent views. We made it back to the Berkeley  
train station just in time to make my train. Four target birds in  
about 90 minutes, including travel time. Some days you get lucky.

Kirk Swenson, Davis <--> Emeryville
Matt Litwin, El Cerrito